Summary
Funny Story is a 2024 novel by Emily Henry, a bestselling American author of contemporary fiction with an emphasis on romance. Set in the picturesque town of Waning Bay, Michigan, the novel follows the unlikely pairing of the practical, well-organized Daphne, a children's librarian, and the scruffy, chaotic Miles, as they navigate the aftermath of their respective breakups. Exploring themes of friendship, new beginnings, and unexpected love with Henry's signature wit and charm, Funny Story debuted at #1 on both The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and has sold over 800,000 copies in North America to date.
Plot
Daphne's life takes an unexpected turn when her fiancé Peter realizes he's in love with his childhood best friend Petra. Left heartbroken, Daphne finds herself in Waning Bay, Michigan, where she secures a job as a children's librarian. In an ironic twist, she ends up becoming roommates with Miles Nowak, Petra's ex-boyfriend.
Despite their opposing personalities—Daphne being practical and buttoned-up, while Miles is scruffy and chaotic—the unlikely pair begins to form a tentative friendship. As they both struggle to cope with their respective breakups, they devise a plan to post misleading photos of their summer adventures together on social media.
What starts as a scheme to save face and possibly make their exes jealous slowly evolves into something more. Daphne and Miles find themselves spending more time together, their initial awkwardness giving way to genuine companionship. They begin to see each other in a new light, beyond the context of their shared heartbreak.
As the summer progresses, Daphne starts to question whether she might be falling for her ex-fiancé's new fiancée's ex. The story follows Daphne and Miles as they navigate their complicated feelings, shared history, and the possibility of finding love in the most unexpected of places, all while trying to build new lives for themselves.
Themes
Unexpected love in the aftermath of heartbreak
Opposites attract
Reinvention and personal growth after setbacks
The power of friendship in healing emotional wounds
Social media's influence on perceptions and relationships
Finding humor and joy in difficult situations
The complexity of modern romance and relationships
Setting
Funny Story is set in the present day, reflecting contemporary social dynamics and technological norms. The novel captures the essence of modern romance, complete with its complexities and the influence of social media on relationships.
The story primarily unfolds in the picturesque town of Waning Bay, Michigan. This lakeside community serves as the backdrop for the characters' evolving relationships and personal growth. The small-town setting provides an intimate atmosphere that contrasts with the characters' big-city backgrounds, adding depth to their interactions and experiences.
Within Waning Bay, specific locations play important roles in the narrative. The local library, where Daphne works as a children's librarian, becomes a central hub for her new life. Additionally, the shared living space of Daphne and Miles serves as a crucible for their developing relationship, while the town's scenic spots likely feature in their deliberately misleading social media posts.
Characters
Daphne: The protagonist. A practical, buttoned-up children's librarian who finds herself stranded in Waning Bay, Michigan, after her fiancé leaves her for his childhood best friend. Daphne is so private that her coworkers have a running bet on whether she's FBI or in witness protection. She forms an unlikely friendship with Miles and embarks on a plan to mislead others about their relationship.
Miles Nowak: The male lead and Daphne's unexpected roommate. Scruffy and chaotic, Miles is Petra's ex-boyfriend. He has a penchant for drowning his sorrows in heartbreak love ballads. Miles is the complete opposite of Daphne, but they bond over their shared predicament and develop a tenuous friendship that may lead to something more.
Peter: Daphne's ex-fiancé. He was known for his charming way of telling the story of how he and Daphne met and fell in love. Peter ultimately realizes he's in love with his childhood best friend Petra, leaving Daphne stranded in his lakeside hometown.
Petra: Peter's childhood best friend and new love interest. She is Miles's ex-girlfriend and becomes engaged to Peter, creating the complicated situation that brings Daphne and Miles together as roommates.
Quick facts
Released on April 23, 2024, Funny Story became an instant #1 New York Times bestseller.
The novel was named a Must-Read Book of 2024 by TIME, NPR, and ELLE.
As of July 2024, Funny Story had sold over 800,000 copies in North America.
Funny Story is set in the fictional lakeside town of Waning Bay, Michigan.
The main character, Daphne, works as a children's librarian.
The novel explores themes of starting over after heartbreak and unexpected love.
Funny Story features Henry's signature style of blending humor with romance.
In July 2024, it was announced that the author would be adapting Funny Story into a screenplay, with Lyrical Media and Ryder Picture Company set to produce.
Emily Henry serves as an executive producer for the film adaptation alongside Jon Rosenberg.
About the Author
Emily Henry is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author known for her contemporary novels blending romance and humor. Her breakthrough into adult fiction came with Beach Read in 2020, followed by a string of hits—People We Meet on Vacation (2021), Book Lovers (2022), Happy Place (2023), and Funny Story (2024).
Born and raised in the Cincinnati area, Henry attended Hope College on a creative writing scholarship. She began her career writing young adult novels, including The Love That Split the World (2016) and A Million Junes (2017). However, it was her transition to adult romance that catapulted her to literary stardom. Her books have sold nearly three million copies and won multiple Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Romance. All five of her adult romance novels have been optioned for screen adaptations. People We Meet on Vacation is set to become a film starring Tom Blyth and Emily Bader, with a planned release in 2025, and Henry herself is writing the screenplay for Funny Story.
Henry now splits her time between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Northern Kentucky. Her sixth adult romance, Great Big Beautiful Life, is scheduled for publication in April 2025.
